A warm welcome for Minnesota Zoo's rare leopard cubs

Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Dml - Star TribuneAt the Minnesota Zoo, a female amur leopard was on exhibit with two four-month old cubs, one boy and one girl. Amur leopards are considered the world's rarest cats.

Newborns among the rarest breed of cat are making their public debut at the Minnesota Zoo.

Two amur leopard cubs at the Minnesota Zoo are scheduled to be put on display in the Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit Wednesday morning.

Zoo spokeswoman Kelly Lessard does caution, however, that the male and female cubs "may be a little skittish" and not be immediately visible to visitors. The Apple Valley zoo now has five amur leopards.

There are fewer than 40 amur leopards in the wild, meaning that this critically endangered species is "considered the world's rarest cat," Lessard said. The breed is native to the cold, snowy forests in eastern Asia.

The cubs were born on May 29 to Polina and Chobby, and were the first litter of Amur leopards at the Minnesota Zoo since 1995.